Postal Voters Refresh

Are you a postal voter? If yes, this information is for you. . .

We have a duty to collect a fresh signature from postal voters every five years to make sure we have an up to date signature. This is very important because your signature is used at elections when you cast your vote.

If the signature we have on file for you is 5 years old or more then we will send you a form called a Postal Vote Confirmation Notice. We do this once a year and the next time will be on Wednesday 31st of January 2018.

If you do not respond to the first copy we send you then you will receive a reminder on Wednesday 21st of February 2018.

1) Why have you received a Postal Vote Confirmation Notice Form?

You will receive a Postal Vote Confirmation Notice Form if it has been 5 years or more since you gave us a copy of your signature so you could vote by post.

If you want to continue to receive a postal vote we need you to fill in the form and return it to us by no later than Wednesday 14th March 2018.

If we have not received your completed form by the Wednesday 14th of March 2018 you will no longer be able to vote by post in the elections or referendums you are entitled to vote in.

This is because the next postal vote cancellations happen on Thursday the 15th March 2018.

2) What is included on your Postal Vote Confirmation Notice Form?

The form will tell you which types of election you are currently entitled to vote at.

It will also include your date of birth and ask you to confirm whether this is right.

There will also be a section explaining what to do if you cannot fill in the form (see question 4).

3) Why do you need my signature & date of birth?

Your signature and date of birth are what we call personal identifiers.

We must have two personal identifiers to make postal voting more secure.

Having this information from you helps us to stop voting fraud and to make sure your postal vote has been completed by you.

Personal Identifiers are used to protect you and your vote. These identifiers are confidential and are only used by the Electoral Registration Office – they do not appear on the Electoral Register.

4) What if you can't sign your signature any more or you are unable to read or write?

You will need to request a waiver form from us.

There is a section on the Postal Vote Confirmation Notice Form that you can tick which will tell us you need a waiver form. Return this to us and we will send you an application form.

Alternatively, you can give us a call at your local Electoral Registration Office. See the contact us button at the bottom of this page.

If a waiver is granted, this will be for the signature only and you will still need to give us your date of birth.

5) What else do you need to know?

If you do not return your form by Wednesday 14th of March 2018 and your postal vote is cancelled then this does not stop you re-applying for a postal vote again.

If you wish to re-apply please complete a Postal Application Form and return it to us.

An electronic copy of the Postal Application Form can be found on our Application and Waiver webpage by clicking the button below: